The village of Manhattan Board of Trustees met Jan. 3 to review the finance report.
Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the board:
VILLAGE OF MANHATTAN
REGULAR MEETING OF THE VILLAGE OF MANHATTAN
JANUARY 3, 2017
A Regular Meeting of the Village of Manhattan President and Board of Trustees was held on Tuesday
January 3, 2017. Mayor Doyle opens the meeting at 7:00 P.M. Roll call: Trustee Beemsterboer aye,
Trustee McDonough aye, Trustee Reeves, Trustee Biscan aye, Trustee Doyle aye, Trustee Naughton aye.
Also present are Becker, Doyle, Kendall, Nelson, Pintar, Sing, Taylor, Tyk and Wazny.
The Mayor and Board of Trustees Present Star Certificate Awards to Christian Gabriel and Patrick Gabriel
for Advancement To Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America. Eagle Scout is the highest
advancement rank in Boy Scouting. Eagle Scouts do their best each day to make their training an
example, their rank and their influence count strongly for better Scouting and for better citizenship in
their troop.
Doyle motion to approve the Consent Agenda As Follows: The Regular Minutes of the December 6,
2016, Previously Reviewed Executive Session Minutes Including Audio (Not For Release), Bills List For
December 20, 2016, and Bills List for January 3, 2017. Naughton second. Roll call: Beemsterboer aye,
McDonough aye, Reeves aye, Biscan aye, Doyle aye, Naughton aye. (6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent). Motion
Carried.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee Review the Finance Department Monthly Report and at this time have
no questions.
Assistant Finance Director Kendall informs the Mayor and Board of Trustees that they have before them
An Ordinance Abating A Portion Of The Tax Heretofore Levies For The Year 2016 To Pay The Interest And
Principal On $7,500,000 Special Service Area No. 2004-1 Bonds, Series 2015 Of The Village Of
Manhattan, Will County, Illinois. For First Read. In the documents for all of the Village’s SSA, there is a
maximum levy amount recorded; however, if the SSA’s cost is less than expected, these maximums can
be reduced. Staff’s recommendation is to Waive First Read.
Naughton motion to Approve Waiving The First Read Of An Ordinance Abating A Portion Of The Tax
Heretofore Levies For The Year 2016 To Pay The Interest And Principal On $7,500,000 Special Service
Area No. 2004-1 Bonds, Series 2015 Of The Village Of Manhattan, Will County, Illinois. Biscan second.
Roll call: McDonough aye, Reeves Sustain From The Vote Due To Personnel Interest, Biscan aye, Doyle
aye, Naughton aye, Beemsterboer aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 Sustains, 0 absent). Motion Carried.
Beemsterboer motion to Approve An Ordinance Abating A Portion Of The Tax Heretofore Levies For The
Year 2016 To Pay The Interest And Principal On $7,500,000 Special Service Area No. 2004-1 Bonds,
Series 2015 Of The Village Of Manhattan, Will County, Illinois. Doyle second. Roll call: Reeves Sustains
From The Vote Due To Personnel Interest, Biscan aye, Doyle aye, Naughton aye, Beemsterboer aye,
McDonough aye. (5 ayes, 0 nays, 1 Sustains, 0 absent). Motion Carried.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee Review the Public Safety Department Monthly Report and at this time
have no questions.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee Review the EMA Monthly Report and at this time have no questions.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee Review the Public Works Department Monthly Report and at this time
have no questions. Public Works Supervisor Tyk would like to Thank Sgt. McCluskey for calling the Public
Works Department out to Residence Home that was on vacation, because he noticed water running out
of the garage while on patrol.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee Review the Development Department Monthly Report and at this time
have no questions.
Community Development Director Nelson informs the Mayor and Board of Trustees that they have
before them a Resolution Reducing Irrevocable Letter Of Credit #SB 109241948 In The Village of
Manhattan, Illinois (Sunset Lakes Off-Site Improvements). Sunset Lakes has requested that the Letter of
Credit for Sunset Lakes Off-Site Improvements be reviewed for possible reductions/release. The
developer recently installed the Baker Road improvements and Robinson Engineering reviewed the
work and finds that, in their best judgement, the work associated with this request is in substantial
compliance with the approve development plans. It is proposed that the existing Letter of Credit be
reduced from $768,917.60 to $196,328.00.
Doyle motion to Approve A Resolution Reducing Irrevocable Letter Of Credit #SB 109241948 In The
Village Of Manhattan, Illinois (Sunset Lakes Off-Site Improvements), Reducing The Letter Of Credit To
$196,328. Reeves second. Biscan aye, Doyle aye, Naughton aye, Beemsterboer aye, McDonough aye,
Reeves aye. (6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent). Motion Carried.
Mayor Doyle would like to Thank the Manhattan Township for the Dropping of the Ball at Time Square
for New Years, and he would like to also Thank The Public Works Department, EMA, and the Police
Department with their assistance at the event. Mayor Doyle hopes everyone has a great New Year.
Mayor Doyle on behalf of the Board of Trustees would also like to express their Sincere Sympathy to
Trustee Beemsterboer on the recent passing of his Mother.
Steve Rauter from Western Will County Communication Center (WESCOM) is in attendance to give a
presentation on their Dispatch Center. WESCOM was established in 1992, it is one of Six (6) 9-1-1
Centers in Will County, they dispatch for 9 agencies, but Braidwood has informed them they will be
leaving, to go to the new dispatch center, they also have 12 Fire Agencies. The Executive Board is one
representative from each member, with a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary. The Chief’s
Operating Committee has 4 Police and Fire Chiefs, which also has subcommittees. Mr. Rauter gives an
overview of the Union Employees they have working at WESCOM. Mr. Rauter explains the Three Part for
User Fee Calculation. The Grants that are obtain to help with keep the cost down to members. Trustee
Biscan would like to know why Braidwood is leaving, Mr. Rauter cannot answer that. Trustee Biscan is
concern with the location and is service went down. Mr. Rauter explains that there are 4 levels of
backup. Discussion his held on the cost to everyone. Mr. Rauter explains that everyone pays equal, and
you must give a year notice to drop out, then you are invoiced for your debt payment, like Braidwood
who is being invoiced for $212,000. Trustee Reeves if more communities were part of WESCOM, this
would bring the cost down for everyone, Mr. Rauter explains that it could, but you would also have to
take into count the Lincoln-Way 5 came in they would have to employee more dispatcher, if it is just a
few communities, like Manhattan and Mokena, they would be fine with the employees they have. If
after a year they decided to leave then the debt payment would go down. Mr. Rauter explains that he is
not trying to sell them on WESCOM, only wanted to inform the Board of the options out there. Mr.
Rauter explains that there is a $3,000 application fee, but this is returned in the first month billing. EMA
Director Doyle and Deputy Director Werner are concern with the tornado sirens. Mr. Rauter explains
that they do this for many other communities and there should be no problem setting them off for
Manhattan. Mr. Rauter invites the Board Members to take a tour of WESCOM.
Mrs. Kirby wants to know what Executive Session Minutes and Audio was the Mayor and Board
Approving. Mayor Doyle and Village Clerk Becker explain that it is the 6 month review of Executive
Sessions Minutes that have not been released. Mrs. Kirby also would like to know who took out
petitions for the election. Mayor Doyle and Village Clerk Becker explain that this cannot be discussed by
the Mayor and Board of Trustees that she can call the Village office to obtain the information.
Naughton motion to Enter Into Executive Session To The Consideration To Purchase, Lease Or Acquire
Specific Real Estate Property Or For The Probable Or Imminent And Pending Litigation. Reeves second.
Roll call: Naughton aye, Beemsterboer aye, McDonough aye, Reeves aye, Biscan aye, Doyle aye. (6 ayes,
0 nays, 0 absent). Motion Carried.
Reeves motion to Reopen The Regular Meeting. Second. Roll call: Reeves aye, Biscan aye, Doyle aye,
Naughton aye, Beemsterboer aye, McDonough aye, McDonough second. (6 ayes, 0 nays, 0 absent).
Motion Carried.
The Mayor and Board of Trustee would like to know the history as to why we are looking into going with
WESCOM. Chief Wazny explains that because of the State requiring Consolidation, Will County will be
down to Three (3) The New Laraway Center, WESCOM and Joliet, Joliet will only cover Joliet. The new
Laraway Center is to cover a group of 30, with that said the Mayor, Village Administrator and him have
attended numerous meeting over the last few months, and the Chief became concern because egos and
people with their own agendas were starting to make the decision, which was not benefitting the group
and more and more problems were starting to muddy the waters. Chief decided that he needed to
make sure they were doing what was best for the community of Manhattan, so he wanted to look at
another option. Mayor Doyle, Village Administrator Sing and he took a tour of WESCOM and viewed
the power point, and they found that WESCOM runs like a clock, everything is done efficiently, it was
very impressive. The cost was researched, but the Chief is concern more with the safety issue for the
community. Village Administrator Sing explains that the new Laraway Center is structured evenly for
everyone, and not by call for service the fee for this would $80,000 right now, compared to WESCOM at
$112,000, but the variables for the new Laraway Center could change, as they are only leasing the
building, and Will County could ask them to leave at any time and at this time no one knows what the
future will bring on how the center is run and if the cost will increase. Mayor Doyle explains that the
County seems to stepping in more and more and if they take over the service could go down, which
would not be good for the safety of the Manhattan Community. Trustee Naughton points out that is
why we left the county and went to Lincoln-Way in the first place. Mayor Doyle points out that
WESCOM has quality service. Mayor Doyle also points out that the Committee for the New Laraway
Center is requiring everyone to sign an agreement by February 22, 2017, and if you do not then you will
be considers a new member, requiring a payment of $5,000.00 for an application fee. The Mayor and
Board of Trustees feel that they need to look at the safety for the community as well as the cost, but
safety for the community must come first. Mayor Doyle informs everyone that the Interim Director Brad
Verman will be in attendance at the next meeting to inform them on the cost and services that the New
Laraway Center is planning on providing.
McDonough motion to Adjourn The Regular Meeting at 8:56 P.M. Naughton second. All Members Are
In Favor.
______________________________
Mattie Becker, Village Clerk
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